Bridging the Gap Between Car and SUV
by Joe Tralongo

In the heyday of the station wagon, Chevrolet reigned supreme. With regal names like Kingswood and Caprice Estate, it was the full size wagon that served as both the family shuttle and, for many teen drivers, the ideal vehicle in which to take a date “Parking.” Chevrolet has long since abandoned the Caprice nameplate, but the idea of a full size wagon based on car, not a truck, platform lives on in the all-new Chevrolet Traverse. Actually, as the Traverse shares its engine and chassis with three other GM juggernauts, namely the Buick Enclave, GMC Acadia and Saturn Outlook, it’s really not completely new. Yet with the exception of the seductive Enclave, the Traverse may be the most attractive of the bunch. Priced similarly to the Saturn Outlook the Traverse offers a look more European-inspired than Detroit. Once you get around to the front, however, the image quickly changes. Here resides the new face of Chevrolet, boldly announced by a handsome split mesh grille and large gold bowtie emblem.

Like its brothers and sisters, the Traverse is a crossover SUV riding on a single unit body platform that adds both strength and lightness to the design. With seating for up to eight people, the Traverse can definitely fill the roll of full-size SUV. It can even tow up to 5,200 pounds. And with its front and available all-wheel drive, the Traverse is well suited to foul-weather excursions. But it’s what’s under the hood that truly separates the Traverse from larger SUVs such as the Tahoe and Suburban. In place a fuel thirsty V8, Chevrolet offers a potent yet fuel-efficient 3.6-liter V6 engine. The Traverse is the first of the four siblings to be fitted with gasoline direct injection, a revolutionary way to get fuel into the combustion chamber that results in better fuel economy and more horsepower. In front wheel drive from, the Traverse earns an EPA rating of 17 mpg in the city and 24 mpg highway. That’s pretty impressive for a vehicle that can comfortably hold six people and their luggage.Chevrolet, boldly announced by a handsome split mesh grille and large gold bowtie emblem.

Available in LS, LT and LTZ trims, the Traverse runs the gamut from basic transport to near-luxury cruiser. Even the base LS includes such features as power windows, door locks and mirrors, as well as air conditioning, cruise control and an AM/FM stereo with MP3 compatible CD player. You also get a one year subscription to OnStar with Turn-by-Turn navigation. A fully-loaded LTZ find such features as a power rear liftgate, heated and cooled front seats, ultrasonic rear park assist and Bluetooth hands-free phone connectivity.

Climb inside the Traverse and you’re greeted by a contemporary interior loaded with usable space and efficient design. Gone are the bad plastics and Fisher Price switchgear that once haunted GM SUVs. In there place is a handsome dash with well placed instruments backlit in cool blue lighting and a plethora of available features the run the gamut from onboard navigation to a Side Blind Zone Alert system to a dual pane glass moonroof. Comfortable seats in all three rows are a plus, as it a third-row seat that can actually accommodate two adults. And unlike many of its competitors, the Traverse’s third-row seat doesn’t back right up to rear hatch; there’s still a good amount of usable cargo room behind it. When not in use, the Traverse’s seats fold flush to create a huge flat cargo floor measuring a massive 116.4 cubic feet. The Traverse is also loaded with standard safety features, including front side impact and three-row side curtain airbags, traction and roll stability control and anti-lock disc brakes.
In short, if you need a big SUV like vehicle to do the things big SUVs do, but you have a need for best in class safety, fuel economy and resale, the Traverse should defiantly be at the top of your test drive list. Perhaps they should have named it the Traverse Estate.

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